A recent controversy instigated by the Pawtucket City Council betrays a shortsightedness that runs counter to the city’s effort to revitalize its downtown. City council members have proposed removing the leaky tower that rises above City Hall instead of repairing it.

Taking down the tower — a 1933 Art Deco landmark that decorates the building in which the mayor’s office is housed, a structure on the National Register of Historic Places since 1983 — would be a serious error in judgment, proof that the council members entrusted with the responsibility to promote and enhance Pawtucket have neither instinct for how to jump-start the local economy nor vision of what the city can become.

Thanks to GoProvidence.com (The Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau) for sharing some great holiday photos in our Flickr Group. Be sure to visit GoProvidence’s special New Year’s Eve Event Page.

All the details on this Saturday’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony and other festivities from the City of Providence:

Saturday, December 7, 2013 at 6pm

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Families and residents are invited to kick-off the festive season of shopping and homecomings in the Capital City on Saturday, when Mayor Angel Taveras hosts the City of Providence’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting festivities.

The ceremony will take place on Saturday, December 7 at 6 p.m. at the Bank of America Skating Center. It will be emceed by Mayor Taveras and NBC 10’s Morning anchor, Barbara Morse Silva. Tony the Dancing Cop will be stationed at Washington Street and Dorrance Street at 5:30pm to welcome guests.

The ceremony will include performances by RPM Voices of Rhode Island featuring RPM Youth Voices, the Brown University Skating Band and the 4th and 5th grade chorus from the Lillian Feinstein at Sackett Street Elementary School. A figure skating demonstration by regional award winners will follow the ceremony, and Santa will be on the ice when public skating resumes.

Members of the Johnson & Wales University chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa will provide refreshments and sell ornaments to benefit Hasbro Children’s Hospital. Stanley Tree Service is donating crane service for the trees.

The event is sponsored by the Providence Department of Parks and Recreation, the Providence Tourism Council, Whole Foods Market University Heights, Dave’s Coffee and Zipcar Providence.

Mayor Taveras to Host Annual St. Joseph’s Day Celebration at Providence City Hall

Providence Mayor Angel Taveras will host the annual St. Joseph’s Day Celebration at Providence City Hall this afternoon. General Secretary and Treasurer of the Laborers’ International Union of North America, Armand Sabitoni, will be the honorary guest speaker at this year’s celebration on the second and third floors of City Hall. There will be traditional Italian musical performances by Bill Moretti and Domenic DePasquale and Rev. Dean Perri of the Catholic Diocese of Providence will deliver an invocation.

Mayor Taveras to Host Annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at Providence City Hall

Providence Mayor Angel Taveras will host the annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at Providence City Hall this afternoon. Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin will be the honorary guest speaker at this year’s formal celebration on the second and third floors of City Hall. City Hall will be filled with traditional musical and dance performances by the Providence Police Department Pipes and Drums and the Goulding School of Irish Dance. Rev. Timothy Reilly of the Catholic Diocese of Providence will deliver a blessing and invocation and Mayor Taveras will present a Mayoral Citation to the Providence St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee.

City of Providence Searching for a Perfect Tree

PROVIDENCE, RI – The City of Providence will host the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Saturday, December 1 at the Bank of America City Center. To complete preparations, the City needs a tree and is asking residents to nominate their own 35-foot to 45-foot spruce or fir trees that they wish to remove from their property.

Residents can nominate their tree by sending an e-mail with a description or photo of the tree to Deb Dormody, the City’s Cultural Affairs Manager in the Department of Art, Culture + Tourism at ddormody@providenceri.com.

The Department of Parks and Recreation will cut the winning tree down and haul it away free of charge. The tree will be displayed on the steps of City Hall throughout the holiday season. The winning tree owner will be photographed with Mayor Taveras in front of the tree during the lighting ceremony. Submissions must be received by Wednesday, November 14.

This year’s tree lighting ceremony will be emceed by Mayor Taveras and Michaela Johnson, host of WPRI’s The Rhode Show. The ceremony will feature performances by RPM Voices, the 18 Wheelers and the Brown University Skating Band. Skate for Joy will partner with local and regional figure skaters, as well as members of Team USA, for a figure skating demonstration.

Members of the Johnson & Wales University chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa are selling ornaments to decorate the tree to benefit Hasbro Children’s Hospital. Stanley Tree Service is donating crane service for the trees.

Later this month, the City will kick off the annual Buy Providence + Buy Art campaign to encourage support for local businesses and artists during the holiday season.

Collector, Assessor, Licenses, and Vital Statistics offices will be open until 7pm, two nights per month in new City Hall initiative:

Starting [today], Wednesday, October 5, Providence City Hall will extend the service hours of four city departments until 7PM on the first and third Wednesday of every month.

The pilot program to create evening hours will enable more residents to conduct business with the city following their own workday, and is part of Mayor Taveras’ commitment to making city government more flexible and responsive to all the residents of Providence.

Departments that will be part of the pilot program include the Offices of City Collector, City Assessor, Board of Licenses and Vital Statistics. Most of the services that are available during the day will be available during extended evening hours.

“In our busy world, residents need the flexibility to conduct business with the city after the workday is done and children are in the care of another parent or family member. Residents whose schedules make it difficult to get to City Hall during the day will now be able to get a birth certificate, appeal an assessment, pay a bill and take care of other business in the evening,” said Mayor Taveras.

All services performed during the day will be available during evening hours at the Board of Licenses, in the City Assessor’s Office and the Office of Vital Statistics.

In the City Collector’s Office, residents can make tax payments, get duplicate bills, clean city licenses, and remove DMV registration blocks during evening hours. The following services will not be available during evening hours: phone inquiries, payment plans/settlements, municipal lien certificates and tax-sale redemptions. Bilingual services will be offered in the City Collector’s Office until 5:30PM during evening hours.